Improvement in banjos



a f.. .WW uw @tinted tant hneln @itat W w+ W t?" FRANK P. DOBSON,`OF YORK, N. Y.

Letters Patent No. 88,555, dated .April 6, 1869.

IMPROVEMENT IN BANJOS.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making partof the same.

To all whom it 'may concern Be it known that I, FRANK P. DoBsoN, of the city, county, and Sta-teef N ew York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Banjos; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, which forms part of this specilication.

My invention consists in the combination, with a double-headed banjo, of a reversible handle, so adapted and arranged that it may be quickly adjusted, so as to face either head of the banjo, and hold the strings thereon, in the usual or in any proper manner.

In the accompanying drawing- Figure l is a side elevation ot' a banjo provided with a reversible handle according to my invention Figure 2 is a central longitudinal section thereof.

A designates the frame, or ring, and B B', the two heads of a banjo.

The heads are stretched over the rim, and secured in place by rings a a', which are held fast by screws passing through the same, and into a central ring, b, as clearly shown in lig.' 1.

The rim is provided with a number of apertures, or holes, c c, for permitting the escapeof sound from the interior of the banjo.

C designates the reversible handle; and, in the present instance, this handle is constructed with a square shank, which passes through a squared hole on one sideoi' the -riin A, its end projecting out oi another squared hole on the opposite side ofthe rim to that at which it enters. v

For enahlin g the handle to be reversed, without withdrawing the same entirely out of the banjo, I have rounded the corners of the square shank at points a little beyond the places it occupies in the rim when at rest therein, so that, by drawing the handle a short distance out of the banjo, it can 'be easily turned, as will be fully understood byl reference to iig. 2.'

The strings are applied to the string-board of the handle, in the ordinary way, with keys, and the tip is secured in place by passing the loop of apiece of wire,

or other material secured to said tip, over the end of the handle.

To reverse .the handle from vone side to the other, it will be observed that it is merely necessary to loosen the strings D sndiciently to slip the tip off the end of the handle, when, by drawing the handle a little way out of the banjo, it may be turned. Then it is to be pushed in again, and the tip and bridge .adj usted, and the strings tighten ed, when the instrument will be ready to be used, the strings crossing the other head.

I do not limit my invention to a reversible handle whose shank passes through the banjo, as the end of the handle can be fitted in a socketl secured to the rim of the banjo, so that it can be turned in either direction, and a knob on theopposite side of the rim, like those in violins, can be employed to hold the strings; and, furthermore, the handle can be secured in a revolving plate, and be turned round in that way, and any suitable device for locking it in place can be employed; and there are many other ways of applying a handle to a banjo, so that it can be reversed, and held securely by the strings, or some locking-device, when so reversed. I therefore consider my invention as comprehensive enough to cover, broadly', Vthe combination, with a double-headed banjo, of a handle, so arranged as to be reversible, in a manner to bring the strings over either head.

By my invention, I am enabled to combine two banjos in one, and, where the heads are constructed for giving out different tones, I produce a simple and cheap instrument, adaptedfor pla-ying all manners of tunes. What I claim as my invention, and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The combination, with a double-headed banjo, of a reversible handle, substantially as herein specified.

2. The combination, with such reversible handle, of a rim, provided with apertures c, for the escape of the sound, substantially as herein specified.

FRANK P. DOBSON.

Vitnesses:

HENRY G. DoBsoN, F. B. B-Encrmn. 

